BY: FAIZA JIBRIN, SEPTEMBER 12, 2024 | 11:21PM
Some of the people displaced by the devastating flood in Maiduguri are facing a new challenge: accessing emergency camps established by the Borno State Government.
The flood, which occurred on Tuesday, destroyed property, claimed lives, and left mostly women and children without shelter.
Our reporter visited the Bakassi Camp, which houses over 14,000 people, and found that many victims are being denied entry due to a lack of official identification cards.
The government introduced the card system to verify genuine victims and prevent impostors from accessing aid.
However, this has resulted in some genuine victims being left out.
'Many victims were seen outside the camp struggling to enter, but they don't have the official card.
'The method is good, but there are victims who really need emergency support outside the camp because they don't have the card,' our reporter said.
Fatima Abubakar, a pregnant woman with four children, is one of the victims struggling to access the Bakassi Camp.
She recounted how she and her children initially fled to a relative's home, only to be chased away by rising waters once again.
Now, Fatima faces new uncertainty, as she has yet to receive the necessary identification card required for entry into the camp.
'I don't know where to go, and I don't have the identification card,' she said, her voice filled with exhaustion.
Even for those who manage to enter the camp, another hurdle remains.
According to another woman, 'even if you get entry into the camp, you will not be supported with anything unless you have the official identification card.'
This means that victims like Fatima, who are yet to receive the card, are left without access to vital aid.
Effort to reach the people who are giving the identification card for comments was not successful as at the time of filing this report.
Lake Chad Times Newspaper, formerly TwentyOne is urging the government to find a solution for those victims outside the camp, who are in dire need of assistance.